U.S. Army Second Lieutenant Mackenzie Kirsch was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. In 2024, she graduated as the valedictorian of The New Mexico Military Institute. Mackenzie was commissioned from the Early Commissioning Program as a Second Lieutenant in the Vermont Army National Guard, where she is currently serving in the Judge Advocate General Corps office. As a cadet at the New Mexico Military Institute, she served as the Regimental Provost Marshal, Battalion Operations Officer, Battalion Adjutant, and was on the Ranger Challenge Team. Her proudest achievements in the Army include completing the Norwegian Ruck march with her unit and being honored as a Distinguished Military Graduate.
Before her military career, Mackenzie graduated from the Dutch National Ballet Academy in Amsterdam, won First Place at The Youth America Grand Prix, competed at the Vaganova Prix in St. Petersburg, Russia, and was the first dancer from San Antonio to compete at The Prix De Lausanne in 2019.
At Syracuse, Mackenzie is studying to receive her bachelor’s in political science, with a concentration in Security Studies, on a pre-law track. She also chairs the Syracuse University Conduct Board, works in the National Veterans Resource Center gallery, and is currently serving as the Early Commissioning Program Detachment Commander. Mackenzie’s favorite thing about Syracuse University is participating in any and every opportunity to collaborate with Army ROTC cadets and other military-connected students.
Following her Syracuse University graduation in May 2026, Mackenzie will attend the Adjutant General Corps Basic Officer Leadership Course at Ft Jackson, South Carolina. Her plans are to attend law school and eventually transition into the Judge Advocate General Corps.
